My Shocking Secret Revealed
It’s time for me to come out the closet; so to speak.
I have a secret that I have been wanting to share for a few months now. Some of you will be shocked while others will be pleased to know that they’re suspicions are correct.
This underground information has burdened me for some time. Some readers are already aware of my covertness. Surely the Lord God knows it. My wife and oldest daughter have too been made aware as well. But how do I let the cat out of the bag w/o harming my ministry or family? The local church community believes me to be a little off as it is. This enlightenment will be the equivalent to handing those self same people a loaded gun, turning my back to them and saying “fire!”
Let me keep you in suspense no longer. Doug Rea has secret identity – on Twitter.
I am not only known as @Dougrea, but @Dougrea is also the infamous @iDontLikeChurch.
http://twitter.com/idontlikechurch - A “PASTOR” WHO DOESN’T LIKE CHURCH? GASP!!! Yet it is true.
Oh don’t get me wrong – I love the gathering of His people. Further, I think it is the will of The Father that we do indeed gather on a regular basis. What I mean is that I don’t like church that creates a clergy/laity mentality. I resist an atmosphere that creates a senses-stimulating event simply for the sake of attraction. Don’t turn me off yet – you don’t know me that well. Read on.
We, like most folks here in the south, gather every week at Connections. We have a band (although not every week – that would become religious). Connections has a projector, and other modern and relevant factors. At the same time, we don’t practice a “one man show.” Rather we take a “family gathering” approach.
People begin to gather at 10am on Sundays to some pastry’s and coffee. Some go right into prayer, others work on sound and/or music, while most of us sit around and catch up on our week around the tables, chairs and sofas that are scattered throughout the meeting room. Once the majority of the family has gathered (usually about 11), we share testimonies, songs, and one of elders will teach. I will get back to the teaching in a follow up writing – but for now, “No Sermons Allowed.” - and all this takes place in the same room. We don’t want to create an atmosphere that says, “go somewhere to worship God.”
As a family gathering we permit and encourage all the gifts to operate. Questions, comments, revelation, discussion, prayer “as we go” are common. The time together is not compartmentalized.
Some that tried to label us have used such terms as relevant, organic, house church, and a simple church. Yet none of these really describe who we are. Connections is simply a gathering of real people for a real purpose. At the facility we don’t use terms like worship team, “enter in…”, sermon, sanctuary, or even church, unless we are referring to these in the strict biblical sense of the word. Speaking of these; Connections places great emphasis on His Bride, His People, and His Church. Our heart is to bring people to a place where they are free from all man-made traditions and accept the simple fact that they/we are the sanctuary of The Living God. We are the Living Stones that are built together to create His Body.
Our modus operandi is a simple one: “If it is permitted in the average family room, it is permitted in this building.”
I am sitting here at Starbucks watching people who have never met before relate and talk. Across the carpet is yet another weekly gathering of men from all races and social backgrounds speaking of every conceivable subject. Now – picture that type of gathering with one common thread – Jesus. I give you Connections.
I will write a follow up if some degree of interest is shown. For now, just know that I/we do not stand in judgment of anyone or any group. I simply wanted to share more about me and “My Shocking Secret.”
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